Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Cunningham, Johnson, Lagana, Zwicker, A.M.Bucco, Diegnan and Madden
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits State Board of Education from requiring completion of performance-based assessment as condition of eligibility for certificate of eligibility with advanced standing.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning performance-based assessments for teacher candidates and supplementing chapter 26 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Board of Education shall not require a candidate for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing to complete a Commissioner of Education approved performance-based assessment, including, but not limited to, the edTPA, as a condition of eligibility for a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing.
b. An educator preparation program shall not consider whether a candidate has completed a Commissioner of Education approved performance-based assessment when making a determination as to whether to recommend a candidate for certificate of eligibility with advanced standing certification to the Commissioner of Education.
c. As used in this section, “certificate of eligibility with advanced standing” means a certificate with lifetime validity issued by the State Board of Examiners to candidates who meet degree, academic, and test requirements for teacher certification and complete an educator preparation program.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Under current State Board of Education regulations, in order to be eligible to receive a certificate of eligibility with advanced standing (CEAS) a candidate must pass a Commissioner of Education approved performance-based assessment, currently the edTPA.
This bill provides that the State Board of Education is prohibited from requiring a candidate for a CEAS to complete a Commissioner of Education approved performance-based assessment in order to be eligible for CEAS certification. Additionally, the bill prohibits an educator preparation program from considering whether a candidate for a CEAS has completed a Commissioner of Education approved performance-based assessment when making a determination as to whether to recommend a candidate for CEAS certification.